How to have a great celebration this July 4th

Have you ever gone to a great barbecue and wish you could host one yourself?

Now you can!!

It's not difficult to have a great party.  There are a few things that will help you do this:

Everything needs a theme!  If you are having people over to celebrate the Fourth of July...you have a theme!  You don't need to have a flag theme but you do need to have a theme to take through the party. 

Entertainment is a MUST.  Do not expect your guests to "entertain" themselves.  Have games; horseshoes, ladder golf (personally one of my favorites), volleyball, etc.  Every party, as with every family, has the "crazy" guest...if you don't have entertainment they will be happy to provide it for you!

Know your guests.  If you invite vegans...have something for them to eat.  (I have only one friend who is vegan so when I invite her I ask her to bring what she would like to grill.  She has never been offended by this request as I am sure she would rather bring something than leave it up to me, someone who has no idea, to supply her food).

Variety is essential.  Don't just have burgers and dogs.  Chicken, seafood, shish kabobs with your burgers and dogs are a nice variety.  I like to give guests the theme and ask them to bring a dish; side or dessert.  (Okay if you are inviting a single man....chips are a good choice for them). 

Are children allowed.  It is VERY important that you let your guests know if they can bring their children.  There is nothing worse for a guest to bring their children only to find out, after they are there, that children were not invited.  It makes everyone uncomfortable.

Will there be alcohol?  If so are you providing the alcohol or is it BYOB?  Always have other non-alcohol refreshing drinks available.  Ice tea, water, fruit drinks are always a hit.

Start preparations 24 hours in advance.  Marinate all meat the day before, prepare any sides and/or desserts the day before and plan your theme decoration.  If you can decorate the day before great! but if you can't at least have your plan of attack ready.

Small take home gifts.  Keeping with your theme have something everyone can take home with them.  For example if you are throwing a Fourth of July theme barbeque maybe have small flags for everyone.  It is always great when I look at something I took home from a great party and remember it months later.

If you need items for your theme party contact Cari at Freedom Consignment & Antiques.  They have a large variety of items.  They also do gift baskets that you can use as decorations during the celebration and give as a gift at the end.

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